McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle

One of the most effective and common US Air Force fighters. Put into service in 1973 city, it is in order and in the XXI century. The longevity of the aircraft due to the great potential of its modernization. For 20 years more than was produced several fighter modifications: A 15A, C, B, D, E-15S - the most common version of the plane: it is designed for the tasks facing a fighter, and for the application of air strikes on ground targets. Plane F-15 G( "Eagle") refers to an all-weather strike fighter. At the beginning of the XXI century. US Air Force are armed with more than 900 aircraft F-15 different modifications.

Development of modernized F-15 1976 dates back to the year. Then they were exposed to the appearance of the main requirements of the new machine. US Air Force ordered equipment fighter F-15C and F-15D new set of weapons - missiles medium-range AMRAAM AIM-120 type inertial guidance with updating. The range of these missiles reached 50 km.

F-15C / D was released in 1979 In contrast to the base model, it was characterized by: an advanced avionics, enhanced design of the air intakes and the individual elements of the airframe, increased fuel capacity, the availability of non-resettable suspended mounting conformal tanks nodes.

AIM-120 missile production was delayed, and complete aircraft weapons this kind of steel with only 1991 years. Prior to this, the main weapon, which carried a modernized F-15, were UR missiles radio guidance system with AIM-7M Snarrou that could hit an air target at distance up to 45 km.

2 conformal tanks have a total capacity of 4265 kg of fuel. They are mounted under the wings on both sides of the board. The name of the removable tank-containers - Fast Pack. Tests have shown that by the use of conformal tanks, fighter radius of action was increased by 71%. But in the use of container and saw other perspectives. In particular in their holders can be suspended for up to six bombs 450 kg weight. In addition, an option for equipping the front compartment of one of the containers to various intelligence or navigation equipment, systems REP.

They could place the alcohol-water solution used to cool the air entering the engine compressor to give short-term boost to the thrust turbofan, or auxiliary power unit in two LRE AR2-3A. This engine accelerates the aircraft to supersonic speeds at altitudes up to 23 km.

The first F-15 with outboard Fast Pack flew 27.07.1979. Having made the five-hour flight with no intermediate landings, he landed in the British city of Farnborough Airport. During this trip to experienced F-15 containers dispersed till the speed of M = 2, it carried out maneuvers with 5g overload. According to representatives of the US Air Force, these tests are not significantly affected the handling of the machine in flight. But these were just words. In fact, Fast Pack containers equipped with only a limited number of aircraft F-15C / D. Most likely, this was due to deterioration in flight characteristics when flying at supersonic speeds.

On a permanent basis, they have become components of new modification multirole fighter F-15E. Ideas snap arms containers or reconnaissance equipment and have not been translated into reality.

Flight testing and operation of the first series aircraft F-15A / B in parts of the Air Force identified a number of technical shortcomings. Therefore, the plane was sent for revision. In 1984 the US Air Force invested project to improve the production F-15A / B / C / D in the amount of $ 155 million. These funds were received in the framework of program MSIP company "McDonnell Douglas", which was engaged in strengthening the airframe and landing gear. The result of these improvements has been the increased maximum takeoff weight of up to 36,3 t.

The first flight of the fighter F-15C, modified under the MSIP programs held 20.06.1985.

Regarding the modernization of aircraft equipment were advanced multifunction cockpit display system, and an automated reception and transmission of data Link 16. They have improved the relationship between the pilots, ground-based command posts, AWACS aircraft and similar fighters. The equipment received 100 aircraft units of F-15A / B, operated by the US National Guard under, and all multi-function F-15E.

F-15 Eagle was a significant step forward in the development of the US strike aircraft, and long before the appearance of the Soviet Su-27 it were inherent characteristics of Sukhoi machines.

Fighters F-15 Eagle (F-15E) were in service in the US Air Force combat units at the end of 1988, while the multi-function aircraft developed in Russia have become adopted only at the end of 1990-ies.

McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle Video

As the experience of operation of new aircraft, the load on the crew when operating in harsh weather conditions was significant at low altitude, high degree of automation course of the flight did not live up to all expectations. Therefore, it was necessary to conduct aircrew training F-15 Eagle. The indicators on the control cockpit instrument panel lights up when struck by sunlight, that cause trouble for pilots.

Combat use of F-15

F-15C become the protagonists of the war 1991 of the Middle East. 120 USAF fighters who carried out the operation "Desert Storm", made more than 5900 missions, which resulted in the loss of 37 39 aircraft which Iraq lost in air confrontations. Models of planes that were shot down while "Needles" - a "Mirage» F.1, Su-22, 25-Su, MiG-23 and MiG-25. Aircraft carried in the air 6-8 hours, sometimes it was necessary to air refueling tankers from COP-135. Defeat all the aircraft were carried missiles "Sidewinder and Sparrow." Guidance on goal comes in the form of commands to the AWACS aircraft.

F-15C - the most powerful NATO fighters who took part in the fighting in the Balkans, the 1999 Their task was to ensure the effective defense in the frontal zone and support long-range strategic bombers, the United States.

The first scoring battle took place 26.03.1999 over the airspace of Bosnia. A pair of American F-15S according to the E-3 E-29 "Sentry" data was aimed at a group of Serbian fighters crossing the air border between the states. There was a battle, the results of which both sides interpreted in their own way. Command of the US Air Force announced the defeat of two MiG-15 and the absence of losses on its part. The Serbian side insists that both F-XNUMX fighters were destroyed in this fight, also without loss of their aircraft equipment. Media about this precedent provided more weighty evidence of Americans' rightness, but this does not mean that this aircraft was completely invulnerable.